NHL Rumors I: Subban and Canadiens Nearing Arbitration

David Pagnotta: Talks between the Canadiens and P.K. Subban are ongoing, but Pagnotta doesn’t think they’ll go to arbitration. Both sides are wanting to do a long-term deal, just a matter of figuring out the money. Despite the numbers that were filed for arbitration, the Canadiens could be hoping for something between $6.5 and $7 million, with Subban’s side between $7.5 and $8 million.

Brian Wilde: “If indeed Habs sign PK short term as seems to be hinted by Meehan on PTS, it’s another time Habs seem to have less belief in PK than we do.”

Sportsnet: Is it important to you and P.K. that by average annual value, he becomes the highest-paid defenseman in the National Hockey League?

Meehan: Really, we haven’t approached it in that respect. That’s not something that he’s instructed us to attend to. When you get down to an arbitration process, it really becomes in many respects a statistical analysis, and it can be different from a negotiation you’re having with a club. They’re really two different venues.

But he’s a remarkable player, and he has a remarkable presence in Montreal. I think Montreal acknowledges that, and I think we’re all trying to do our best to see if we can come up with something that makes sense from both sides’ points of view.